Bison vs Houston Christian University Huskies

Do or die time for the Bison losing streak. But then, maybe not!! Today's game against Houston Christian University has been moved to tomorrow and will be part of a doubleheader that will begin at 12:00 noon. No reason for the postponement was given in the HCU announcement.

Here is the Series Preview from the HCU we site:

"HOUSTON, Texas – HCU hosts their first home series of the season this weekend against North Dakota State in a three-game series against the Bison on Friday, March 17th through Sunday, March 19th.

Friday, March 17th – 3 p.m.
HCU (TBD) vs. North Dakota State (TBD)
Saturday, March 18th – 1 p.m.
HCU (TBD) vs. North Dakota State (TBD)
Sunday, March 19th – 2 p.m.
HCU (TBD) vs. North Dakota State (TBD)

The Huskies (1-15) are hitting .235 average on offense as a team and have a SLG% of .373. HCU has hit 15 home runs on the year along with 27 doubles and scored 80 runs. As a unit, the Huskies have 86 base-on-balls while striking out 162 times in the opening 16 games. HCU has a combined average ERA of 9.39 through 132.1 innings pitched. The Huskies have given up 169 runs on 170 hits along with 109 walks and 117 strikeouts. Defensively, the Huskies have committed 30 errors with a .947% fielding percentage while converting 23 double plays and caught seven opposing batter stealing.

The Bison (1-16) just notch the Huskies offensively with a batting average at .245 and SLG at .431% on the season. The Bison have recorded 23 home runs with 35 doubles and 88 runs so far this spring. The Huskies draw more walks than the Bison (72) and have 18 less strikeouts than NDSU with 180. North Dakota State have a combined average ERA of 7.74 through 140.2 innings pitched, and have given up 145 runs on 178 hits along with 73 walks and 126 strikeouts. Defensively, the Bison have committed 20 errors with a fielding percentage of .964, converting 10 double plays, and have only caught four opposing batters stealing.

HCU is led by freshman outfielder Samuel Benjamin who is batting .320 average with 16 hits, 11 RBIs, nine runs, and a team high four home runs. Junior shortstop Austin Roccaforte leads the team in runs and walks with 11 runs and 13 walks with 15 hits, six RBIs, and an average of .268%. Freshman outfielder Damian Ruiz leads the Huskies in stolen bases with four on five attempts. Ruiz is batting .296% with six runs on 16 hits along with 10 RBIs and a home run.

North Dakota State is led by Cadyn Schwabe hitting .328% with a team high 14 runs, 22 hits, 10 walks, and 14 strikeouts. Terrell Huggins ties the team lead with five homeruns will batting .328% with 11 runs on 21 hits, six doubles, and 10 RBIs. Druw Sackett leads the Bison with 19 RBIs, eight doubles, and 43 total bases."

AND THE STREAK IS OVER!!! The Bison broke a 7-all tie with 3 unearned runs in the top of the 7th and Skyler Riedinger came in to close-out the game for the Bison. After walking the lead-off man, he retired Samuel Benjamin (who had terrorized the Bison pitching staff with 2 doubles, a three-run homer, and 5 RBI by going 3-4 in his previous at bats) on a pop-up to second. He followed that with a flyball out. An error on the Bison kept the Huskies alive, but a fly out ended the game and the 13-game losing streak.

Bison (2-16): 10 runs on 12 hits, with 1 error and 10 LOB
Huskies (1-16): 7 runs on 11 hits, with 5 errors and 5 LOB

WP: Reese Ligtenberg (1-0)
LP: Chad Ricker (1-2)
Save: Skyler Riedinger (1)

Homeruns: Huskies - Samuel Benjamin(5) - 3-run in the 3rd inning.

Game 2 and the beginning of the Bison winning streak is up next.

AND A NEW STREAK HAS BEGUN!!! The Bison winning streak has reached 2 with a double-header sweep of Houston Christian, as the Bison win game 2 on Saturday by the score of 6 - 5. This will also be the 1st series win this season for the Bison. They will go for the sweep against the Huskies with the final game set for Sunday, March 19th at 2:00 PM CDT

Bison (3-16): 6 runs on 10 hits, with 2 errors and 10 LOB
Huskies (1-17): 5 runs on 10 hits, with 1 error and 6 LOB

WP: Max Loven (1-1)
LP: Jarek Wells (0-3)
Save: Carson Jacobs (1)

Homeruns: Bison - Terrell Huggins (6) 3 run to left in the 4th inning. Huskies - Parker Edwards (3) - solo to left in the 6th inning.

Bison: Terrell Huggins - 2-4, HR, 2b, and 4 RB1, Cadyn Schwabe - 3-4 with 2b and 1 RBI, Kyle Law - 2b, Peter Brookshaw - 2b , Garrett Hill - 2b
Huskies: Samuel Benjamin - 1-3 with 2 RBI, Diego Davilla - 2-4 with 2 2b, Trent Baker - 2-4, Damien Ruiz - 2b, Reed Chumbley - 2b

The Bison begin Summitt Conference play next week with an early season record of 3-17, as they drop the final game of the Houston Christian series to the Huskies by the score of 6-5. The lack of timely hitting with men on base continues to be a problem for NDSU, as they leave 14 men on base, while their opponent only stranded 5 runners.

Bison (3-17): 5 runs on 14 hits, no errors and 14 LOB
Huskies (2-17): 6 runs on 11 hits, with 2 errors and 5 LOB

WP: Chad Ricker (2-2)
LP: Wyatt Nelson (0-1)
Save: Zach Ryan (1)

Homeruns: NDSU - Peter Brookshaw (6), 2-run to right field in the 8th inning.

Bison: Peter Brookshaw 2-5 with HR and 2 RBI. Cadyn Schwabe 2-5 with 1 RBI. Jack Steil 2-5 with 2b and 1 RBI. Druw Sackett 2-3. Will Busch, 2b and 1 RB!. Carson Hake 2b.
Huskies: Samuel Benjamin 2-4 with 2 RBI. Damian Ruiz 2-4 with 1 RBI. Reed Chumley 2-3. Dylan LaRue 2-4.

It's on to Omaha for the Conference opening series with the Mavericks who are 6-8 overall and 3-0 at home this season. Games set fpr Friday - Sunday, March 24-26 at Tal Anderson Field.